MUMBAI: Bollywood is looking to raise awareness about so-called "honour killings", as the Indian government comes under pressure from its own judiciary and human rights groups to tackle the problem.

"Aakrosh" (Anger), starring Ajay Devgn and Bipasha Basu, is being billed as the first Hindi-language film to address the issue, which the administration in New Delhi has described as "a national shame".

The United Nations has said there are about 5,000 "honour killings" around the world each year. One recent report said some 1,000 women a year are victims in India, mostly in northern states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Deaths often involve young people who have married outside their caste, village or religion or have broken strict conventions on kinship in rural areas.

The killings are carried out by relatives to protect the family's reputation and pride.